Wellness In The Workplace

Maryanne Clark, DNP, RN, FNP-BC

Gundersen Lutheran

Background
Needs assessment. In late 2007, Ashley Furniture Industries (AFI) had 2,233 of their employees participate in a health risk assessment (HRA) along with biometric screening. The summary of the HRA biometric screenings provided AFI management with their own employees obesity prevalence rate which was 40% (AFI, 2008) exceeding that of the national average of 34.3% (Flegal, Carroll, Ogden, & Curtin, 2010). The AFI management team used this information in determining that their employees not only need but would benefit by participating in programs to improve their health and well-being.

Significance
Studies support that obesity is a significant contributor to rising healthcare costs. Because some of this cost is shouldered by employers, they are often motivated to look for strategies to reduce these costs. Many health conditions are potentially responsive to health intervention (heart disease, cancers, obesity, or respiratory diseases).

Purpose/objective
Obesity is epidemic in the United States. It leads to serious health consequences which in turn add to the healthcare costs for individuals and businesses alike. The purpose of this project is to evaluate whether a 12-week worksite physical and nutritional educational program had an effect on body mass index, physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake among the study population.

Methods/project
The 12-week program included weekly challenges; one focused on nutrition and another focused on physical activity. Strategies utilized included team competition and cash incentives. In addition, a web-site was developed in which Body Mass Indices (BMI) and weights were entered allowing participants to be monitored and track their own progress. Pre and post-surveys along with self-reported dietary information and participation in challenges were used to collect data. Official weigh-in sessions took place at week zero and at the conclusion of the program.

Results
Physical activity was increased 4-fold, fruit and vegetable intake showed a 19.8% increase, and participants achieved a statistically significant 10% shift to a lower BMI category (p<0.0001). These data demonstrate that this worksite wellness program positively impacted the study population and should translate to improved health and lower costs of healthcare for AFI.

Clinical implications
This program showed that favorable health and wellness changes can be made in the Ashley Furniture Industries population. It gives the participants the tools necessary to adopt permanent lifestyle changes. It also motivates Ashley Furniture Industries to consider reproducing this program in hopes of improving the health of their workforce and reduce healthcare costs.